Arsenal could hand Ethan Nwaneri his first professional contract, with Mikel Arteta excited to see the youngster rise.
According to ESPN, Ethan Nwaneri is set to sign his first professional contract with Arsenal in the coming days. The Arsenal prodigy only turned 17 on Tuesday, which makes him eligible for pro-terms, as the Gunners will ward off interest from other big rivals.
Ethan Nwaneri set for new deal
Ethan Nwaneri could sign his second Arsenal contract in the space of a year after the Gunners managed to convince the teenager to pen a deal last summer. Back then, many clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea kept close tabs on the youngster’s situation in north London and were ready to pounce at the first available opportunity.
The Gunners managed to ward them off and keep him at the club. Furthermore, Nwaneri did play a few minutes of Premier League action in the 6-0 thrashing of West Ham United away from home. He has also spent plenty of time training with the first team, which is a way to integrate young talents into the leading group.
Now, the Gunners are set to make an even more significant step to integrate Nwaneri into the first team setup as they offer him his first professional contract. The Arsenal prodigy celebrated his 17th birthday on Thursday, which makes him eligible for pro-terms. The club does not want to waste any time in keeping the teenager with a new deal.
As the news is widely reported, the suggestions point toward Nwaneri’s keenness to stay with the club, with Arsenal also very confident of warding off suitors like Chelsea and Manchester City. The duo had entered the equation ahead of Nwaneri coming off age for his professional terms, as he seems likely to stay in north London rather than move elsewhere.
Arsenal have big plans for young stars
The Gunners have revamped their system in the background, joining a select few clubs with a separate transfer budget for the academy. Bringing up players like Nwaneri or Amario Cozier-Duberry and other stars shows the club’s Hale End system has flourished over the years.
They hope to keep stars like Cozier-Duberry and others while showcasing that those stars can build a path towards the first team in the future.
